Learning Matters

🎙️ In this episode of Learning Matters, Doug sits down with Dr. Eli Bendet-Taicher, Head of Global Learning & Talent Development at Wix, for a powerful conversation about the future of Learning & Development. Eli shares why L&D teams must think like a business, how to prove ROI beyond smile sheets, and what it really takes to earn a seat at the table. From data-driven decision making t...

In this episode of Learning Matters, we sit down with Marla Franklin, Director of Learning & Development at a major home care provider, to discuss the strategies reshaping training in 2025. Marla shares powerful insights on: ✔ Customized and interactive learning design ✔ Training across 420+ agency locations ✔ Building scalable leadership models (including her Pieces Model) ✔ Transitioning fro...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Dr. Katie Campbell, Senior Director of Learning and Talent Management at a Fortune 1000 data and financial services company. Dr. Campbell shares how she’s reimagining leadership development—moving beyond the traditional Nine Box model to create a values-driven, data-informed approach that actually builds stronger leaders. Fro...

What does it really mean to lead with purpose? In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Nick Lawrence, Executive Director of People and Culture at Chick-fil-A, to explore how purpose shapes leadership, culture, and learning in today’s workplace. Nick shares his perspective on why great leadership starts with understanding your why—and how Chick-fil-A’s signature phr...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge chats with Chris Harry, Chief Learning Officer at TEKsystems, about how the global IT services leader is transforming talent development through data, technology, and human connection. Chris shares how TEKsystems built TalentX, a data-driven platform that brings over 100 data points per employee into one system — creating a “baseball card”...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Heather Torres, Director of Learning and Development at Brown & Brown. Heather shares why proving ROI is essential for L&D leaders and how aligning learning strategies to business goals transforms L&D from a cost center into a true business driver. She also offers a candid perspective on AI, comparing its adoption...

In this episode of Learning Matters, we sit down with Dr. Sandee Dunbar-Smalley, Chief Learning Officer at AdventHealth. Together, they explore: • Why a people-first mindset is critical for retention and engagement • How AdventHealth measures leadership effectiveness and growth • The wide spectrum of leadership programs, from emerging leaders to executives • The thoughtful adoption of AI in learni...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Colin Platt, Senior VP and National Training Leader at Aon, to explore the future of Learning and Development. Colin shares how Aon is aligning L&D with business strategy, moving beyond checkbox training, and investing in both technical and people skills to help colleagues truly level up. We also discuss how Aon is using...

In this episode of Learning Matters , host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Dr. Darick Bryant, Director of Learning and Organizational Development at Clean Harbors, to explore the power of personalized learning, servant leadership, and the evolving role of AI in L&D. With over 25 years of leadership experience, Dr. Bryant shares how he shifted from a power-driven approach to a people-focused lea...

In this episode of Learning Matters, we sit down with Tomissa Smittendorf, Senior Director of Commercial Capabilities at Kellanova, to explore how her team is leading the charge in learning innovation through immersive technology, data-driven strategy, and AI integration. Tomissa shares how Kellanova is using virtual reality to transform retail sales training, achieving measurable results in engag...

In this episode of Learning Matters, we sit down with Adam Hickman, VP of Organizational and Employee Development at Partners FCU, to explore what truly makes a great leader in today’s workplace. From his early days cleaning flea markets to leading L&D strategy for a Disney-affiliated credit union, Adam shares his real-world insights on leadership transitions, practical applications of AI in l...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Regina Dunning, US VP of Learning and Organizational Development at SThree, to explore what it takes to build an L&D strategy that truly drives business results. Regina shares her journey from accidental trainer to strategic learning leader and offers real-world insights into aligning learning with business goals, measuri...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Nikki Ward, a learning and development leader with a rich background in HR and talent strategy. After 15 years at Athena Health, Nikki shares how her journey from HR business partner to head of L&D shaped her people-first approach to training. We dive into: ✅ How to align learning programs with business goals ✅ Using de...

In this episode of Learning Matters, host Doug Wooldridge sits down with Liz Bruno, former Chief Learning Officer at Baptist Health and a powerhouse in the L&D world. From her early days as a professional ballet dancer to leading system-wide training programs in healthcare, Liz shares her journey—and the bold mindset that’s guided her along the way. 👉 Topics we cover: ✅ Why aligning L&D...

In this episode of Learning Matters, Doug Wooldridge sits down with Dr. Sherri Brooks, Chief Learning Officer at Baptist Memorial Health Care, to explore how her team is creating a “hire to retire” employee experience through innovative learning strategies. With over 22,000 employees across three states, Dr. Brooks shares how Baptist is: ✅ Making L&D more flexible and accessible for frontline...

In this episode of Learning Matters, we sit down with Dasha Crosby, Learning Director at U.S. Bank, to talk about the future of learning and development! With over 15 years of experience in human capital management, talent strategy, and process improvement, Dasha shares why understanding learner pain points is critical for building effective learning strategies—and how communicating the value of l...

How do you turn learning and development into a business essential and not just a checkbox? In this episode of Learning Matters, we’re joined by Carrie Berg, VP of Learning & Development at Teladoc Health, to talk about what it really takes to build an L&D strategy that delivers real impact. Carrie shares how she’s built programs leaders can’t live without, what metrics matter most, and wh...

In this episode of Learning Matters, we sit down with Bette Kidane, Senior Director of Learning & Development at Intermountain Health, to uncover how her team completely redesigned their training strategy—and achieved a 747% ROI in the process. 🔗 Connect with Bette Kidane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bette-rogers-kidane-ms-pmp-crp-cit-9b58776/ What's Inside This Episode? The power of peer men...

This week we're joined by Paul Stephenson Director, Learning - Client Relationships at TIAA to discuss his approach to learning and development. The secret is.... people. We cover everything from human connection, to AI, and cohort-based training. Hope you enjoy! 🔗 Connect with Paul Stephenson via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulr4stephenson/ 🔗Check out Pauls books here: https://www.lu...

Ever feel like Learning & Development (L&D) moves at lightning speed? That’s because it does. Businesses are evolving rapidly, and training programs need to keep up. This week on the Learning Matters podcast I sat down with John Polaschek, Head of Global Learning Solutions at ServiceNow. He shared his thoughts on what makes L&D successful today and where it's headed next. Spoiler alert...

In this episode we take a look back on some of our favorite moments from this year of the Learning Matters Podcast. We want to thank all of our incredible guests that spent time sharing their incredible journeys and insights on the world of corporate learning. We can't wait to see you next year! ––––––––––––––––– At ttcInnovations, we help businesses create lasting change with immersive learning e...

This week we take a trip to Vegas for this year's DevLearn Conference. This marks 20 years of the industry-leading learning technologies event shaping the future of L&D. ––––––––––––––––– At ttcInnovations, we help businesses create lasting change with immersive learning experiences. Through instructional strategy, design, and content development we empower employee confidence, performance, an...

This week we're joined by Dr. Alaina Szlachta to discuss her new book "Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring". Pre-order the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Measurement-Evaluation-Shoestring-Alaina-Szlachta/dp/1957157720 Year after year, talent development professionals report that lack of time, lack of support or partnership from stakeholders, and limited budgets are key barriers to measur...

This week, we're joined by Lisa Ekern a Senior Instructional Designer for ttcInnovations. She takes us through her journey in L&D as well as where she gets inspiration from, how she stays on top of industry changes, and where she sees the future of corporate learning. ––––––––––––––––– At ttcInnovations, we help businesses create lasting change with immersive learning experiences. Through inst...

The world of learning and development (L&D) is always changing, but nowhere is that more evident than in the energy sector. With new technology emerging every day, governments investing in clean energy, and a new generation entering the workforce, training professionals have a lot on their plates. Anne Campbell, founder of Campbell Training Solutions, is someone who has embraced these challeng...